A Believer’s Signs and Qualities

“Once a man called Hammam, an assiduous worshipper practicing religious rules and a hardworking man came to Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) during his speech and said, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, describe for us the…

“It is worthwhile of a believer to have eight qualities: (a) Dignity in volatile conditions, (b) patience on facing a misfortune, (c) gratitude in comfortable conditions, (d) contentment with what Allah has given him for…

“The believer remains silent for safety and speaks to benefit. He does not speak of his trust to the friends and does not withhold his testimony for the people of distant relationships. He does not do anything good to…

“The believer has power in religion. He is of solid determination but with soft words, his belief is in certainty, he has greed in deep understanding, is active in guidance, and virtuous in steadfastness. He has…

“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) once passed by a gathering of Quraysh where he found the people in white clothes, of clear complexion, frequently laughing and who pointed out their fingers to whoever passed…

Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) has said the following: “Whoever enjoys a virtuous deed and is disgusted with a sin is a believer.”

“Our Shi’a (followers) look pale, with parched (lips), slim and they receive the darkening night with sadness.”

“Our Shi’a (followers) are people of guidance, of piety, of goodness, of belief and people of victory and triumph.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Beware of the thoughtless people. Shi’a (followers) of Ali (a.s.) are only those whose stomach and private parts are chaste, and are intensely involved in Jihad. They work for the sake…

“The Shi’a (followers) of Ali (a.s.) were of slim and lean bellies, and withered lips. They were people of compassion, knowledge, and forbearance. They were known as of monkish practice. You should assist each other in…

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Of believers are only those who even on becoming angry do not deviate from the truth and when they become happy it does not take them into falsehood and when in power they do not take…

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.) said to me, ‘O Sulayman, do you know who a Muslim is?’ I said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, you know better. ’ The Imam said, ‘A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands…

“A believer is one whose agreement does not lead him into sin or falsehood. When he is angry it does not take him out of speaking the words of truth, when in power it does not lead him to cross over to where he has no…

‘‘Believers are of serenity and soft words. They are easy to lead like the camel harnessed by the nose, who does not resist the leader who makes him sit even on a rock.”

“Three things are of the signs of a believer: having knowledge of the existence of Allah, who to love and who dislike.”

the Messenger of Allah who has said the following: “A believer is like the tree whose leaves do not fall off in summer or in winter. They asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what tree is it?’ He said, ‘It is the palm-tree.’”

“A believer is forbearing. He is not ignorant and if he is ignored he remains forbearing. He does not do injustice and if he is oppressed he forgives. He is not stingy, if stinginess is exercised against him he exercises…

“A believer is one whose earning is pleasantly clean, whose moral behavior is excellent and whose conscience is not ill. He gives to charity the extra from his property and holds back the extra of his words. People do…

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Do you want me to tell you about believers? He is one whose trustworthiness believers trust in matters of their lives and properties. Do you want me to tell you who a Muslim is? He is…

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The Shi’a (followers) of Ali (a.s.) are only those who are forbearing, scholars, with parched lips and one can find signs similar to those of the monks on their faces.’”

“Once Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) prayed the morning prayer with people in Iraq. After prayer he gave a speech on having fear of Allah. He wept and made people weep. He then said, ‘By Allah, I lived with…

“Once Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) prayed the morning prayer and remained in his place until the sun rose up to the length of a spear and then turned his face to people and said, ‘By Allah I lived in the…

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If you want to see my companions then look to those whose restraining from worldly attraction (sins) is intense, who fear their Creator in the hope for His rewards. If you find such…

“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Our Shi’a (followers) spend for (the cause of) our Walayah (Divine Authority), love each other for the sake of our love, and visit each other to preserve our cause.…

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever comes to know Allah and realizes His greatness does not allow his mouth to speak or his stomach to eat. He engages his soul in fasting and standing for prayer until it is clean…

“Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.) once addressed the people saying, ‘I like to tell you about one of my friends who was the greatest in my sight. The head of what was the greatest in my sight about him was the worthlessness of…

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said, ‘O Mehzam, our Shi’a (followers) are those whose voices do not extend farther than their ears and their animosity do not reach beyond their bodies. They do not praise us openly,…

“Whoever in his dealing with people does not do injustice to them, in his speaking does not lie to them and in his promise does not fail to keep it is among those whose backbiting is unlawful, whose kindness is complete,…

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever has three qualities, the quality of his belief is complete: if he is happy it does not lead him to falsehood, his anger does not lead him out of the truth and when in power does…

“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Religious people have certain signs by means of which they are recognized. Of such signs are truthfulness in their words, safekeeping of trust, steadfastness in…

“The Holy Prophet was asked about the best ones among the servants (of Allah). The Holy Prophet said, ‘They are those who enjoy doing good deeds, and ask forgiveness when they do bad deeds, thank when they are favored,…

abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Holy Prophet has said, ‘The best among you are those who possess al-Nuha’.’ He was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, who are possessors of al-Nuha’?’ He then said, ‘They are…

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Which quality is more graceful for a man?’ The Imam said, ‘Of such qualities are: reverence that is not a cause for any fear, magnanimity without expecting any recompense, and…

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Signs of perfect religion of a Muslim are his restraining from speaking things that do not concern him, his reduced disagreement, his forbearance, patience and his excellent moral…

“The Holy Prophet once asked, ‘Do you want me to tell you who is more similar to me? They replied, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ The Holy Prophet then said, ‘It is he whose moral behavior is most excellent, whose…

“It is of the moral behavior of believers to spend proportionately to their standard of living, raise such standards to what is possible, fairness to people and initiation in offering the greeting of peace.”

“A believer is stronger than a mountain. A mountain loses its parts but no loss takes place in the religion of a believer.”

“A believer is of valuable assistance, of very light expenses, of excellent plans for living and does not allow to be bitten twice from the same opening.”

“I heard al-Rida (a.s.) saying, ‘A believer cannot become a believer unless he has three qualities: one tradition from his Lord, one from His Holy Prophet and one from His Waliyy (one who possess Divine Authority). The…